Martin Lewis: Working from home due to coronavirus, even for a day? Claim TWO years' worth of tax re

rstmart

This is driving me nuts can anyone please help. Followed the instructions but get following message which prevents me from completing the process ! I am presuming that claiming for 2020/2021 is correct ?  Thank you.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

rstmart said:

This is driving me nuts can anyone please help. Followed the instructions but get following message which prevents me from completing the process ! I am presuming that claiming for 2020/2021 is correct ?  Thank you.

You appear to be trying to claim fixed rate expenses which are industry related and absolutely nothing to do with working from home expenses (the £312).

Maybe you should find the correct part of gov.uk first.

MorganGD

Hi everyone! First post here, hope someone can help me - I've looked through the thread but can't see an answer on this.
As I read it, I can either claim tax relief, or get a home working allowance from my employer. My employer has just announced they're going to be paying out a homeworking allowance (of £16 per month) but only from October. So I don't know whether I can claim the relief from April-September, or if getting anything this financial year from my employer ticks that box, effectively. And the amount from my employer is less than £6 per week, I'm guessing that the remainder is just struck off basically? Any ideas? 

rstmart

MorganGD said:

Hi everyone! First post here, hope someone can help me - I've looked through the thread but can't see an answer on this.
As I read it, I can either claim tax relief, or get a home working allowance from my employer. My employer has just announced they're going to be paying out a homeworking allowance (of £16 per month) but only from October. So I don't know whether I can claim the relief from April-September, or if getting anything this financial year from my employer ticks that box, effectively. And the amount from my employer is less than £6 per week, I'm guessing that the remainder is just struck off basically? Any ideas? 

IYou can genuinely answer the question (today!) which asks have you received anything from your employer and say NO. So claim for now. All the taxman will do is adjust your tax code later for the period it paid you at the same time as your employer once it gets informed. If your employer isn't paying you expenses for period WFH since March to now then you are entitled to this flat rate payment.

rstmart

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

rstmart said:

This is driving me nuts can anyone please help. Followed the instructions but get following message which prevents me from completing the process ! I am presuming that claiming for 2020/2021 is correct ?  Thank you.

You appear to be trying to claim fixed rate expenses which are industry related and absolutely nothing to do with working from home expenses (the £312).

Maybe you should find the correct part of gov.uk first.

Thank you> I managed to get to the right screen eventually after answering NO to the one which asked 'do you want to claim flat rate expense'  (which threw me !).

Anyway have claimed for 2019/2020 as started WFH 16/3/20 but am unclear if I have to now go back in and also claim for 2020/2021 too or if tax adjustment / flat rate  is automatically applied / carried over into this tax year too,  having claimed for 2019/2020 already ? Thank you.

MorganGD

rstmart said:

MorganGD said:

Hi everyone! First post here, hope someone can help me - I've looked through the thread but can't see an answer on this.
As I read it, I can either claim tax relief, or get a home working allowance from my employer. My employer has just announced they're going to be paying out a homeworking allowance (of £16 per month) but only from October. So I don't know whether I can claim the relief from April-September, or if getting anything this financial year from my employer ticks that box, effectively. And the amount from my employer is less than £6 per week, I'm guessing that the remainder is just struck off basically? Any ideas? 

IYou can genuinely answer the question (today!) which asks have you received anything from your employer and say NO. So claim for now. All the taxman will do is adjust your tax code later for the period it paid you at the same time as your employer once it gets informed. If your employer isn't paying you expenses for period WFH since March to now then you are entitled to this flat rate payment.

That's a really good point, thank you! I haven't received anything, not least as they're paying us in January but backdating to October. And if it's flat rate for the whole year even if you've only worked from home for part of it, I guess I'd be covered for whenever *during* that year, even if I'd only worked a week in April or something. Thanks!

rstmart

rstmart said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

rstmart said:

This is driving me nuts can anyone please help. Followed the instructions but get following message which prevents me from completing the process ! I am presuming that claiming for 2020/2021 is correct ?  Thank you.

You appear to be trying to claim fixed rate expenses which are industry related and absolutely nothing to do with working from home expenses (the £312).

Maybe you should find the correct part of gov.uk first.

Thank you> I managed to get to the right screen eventually after answering NO to the one which asked 'do you want to claim flat rate expense'  (which threw me !).

Anyway have claimed for 2019/2020 as started WFH 16/3/20 but am unclear if I have to now go back in and also claim for 2020/2021 too or if tax adjustment / flat rate  is automatically applied / carried over into this tax year too,  having claimed for 2019/2020 already ? Thank you.

Apparently I mis-claimed as should have only claimed £12 for 19/20 tax tear period 23/03/20 - 05/04/2020 and then put in another claim for £312 for this years full claim. Have corrected now but hope my narrative above helps others. the Twitter @HMRCcustomers is very good for answering any queries.

Everypenny09

I'm confused by the being able to claim the full amount of £6 per week tax free with no evidence or the £6 per week as tax relief? Can anyone help please? 

Fletchasketch

Everypenny09 said:

I'm confused by the being able to claim the full amount of £6 per week tax free with no evidence or the £6 per week as tax relief? Can anyone help please? 

Sure- what is the exact question they're asking you on the microsite? £6 per week tax relief is correct- but that would appear to be both the above options. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Everypenny09 said:

I'm confused by the being able to claim the full amount of £6 per week tax free with no evidence or the £6 per week as tax relief? Can anyone help please? 

It is £6/week from your employer or tax relief on £6from HMRC.

The HMRC option will save you anywhere from £0 to £3.60/week in tax but for most people it saves £1.20 or £2.40.